Speedway Media, is quickly becoming a “one stop shop” for NASCAR fans to find news and stories about NASCAR, NASCAR teams and drivers as well as the facilities that they race at. In order to promote our “Track News” area the editors of the site decided to ask a series of questions about the tracks and programs that they have this season.
Below are the answers to our questions. If you, the fans, would like to see items added to these track pages please feel free to note these in the comments below…
1. Can you tell us about the events planned around your race weekends this season both at the track and in the community?
Our race weekends center on our Sprint Cup races, the upcoming Kobalt Tools 500 on March 7 and our Labor Day weekend night race on Sept. 5., but each weekend also features an associate race on Saturday – a Camping World Truck Series race in March and a Nationwide Series race on Labor Day weekend – and Georgia Power Qualifying Night this March. In addition we have added a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race to Friday’s schedule this March. Off the track, our in-house charitable organization, Speedway Children’s Charities, plans a number of events surrounding each race weekend. This March’s events include a Clay Shoot with David Ragan, the Fast Talk in Club One, and a Track Walk prior to the Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday, March 7.
2. With the economy and unemployment issues in many areas of the US how has the track responded with special programs geared towards saving fans money? In addition to offering a number of fan- and family-friendly ticket packages, Atlanta Motor Speedway is working with a number of area hotels to provide affordable room rates that do not require a multi-night stay. The complete list can be found here: http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/fans/hotels/
3. NASCAR announced that races would start at standard times in 2010. How will this effect the way that your facility plans events leading to race time? While the standard start times might help facilities in planning events, the fans are best served by this change as they no longer have to check their local listings or favorite website to find the scheduled start time.
4. There has also been talk about condensing the race weekend schedules. How does the track feel about this? You earlier inquired about saving fans money, and one way this can be accomplished is through condensing race schedules. With the success of our first Labor Day weekend night race and from hearing fan comments and reactions, our two-day race weekend was met very positively by fans. By hosting a two-day show, that’s one less ticket and one less night at a hotel fans will be spending their hard-earned money on.
5. Families often travel long distances and incur significant costs just getting to the race. What plans or events are specifically geared towards children and their families? Many of the aforementioned Speedy Children’s Charities events are family friendly, in addition to a number of activities that occur in our Display Lot. Atlanta Motor Speedway also provides a family-friendly, no alcohol and no smoking grandstand during many of our events. In addition, we have also made attending a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway more affordable for families by offering $19 student tickets to our Sprint Cup Series races and kid’s 12 and under will be admitted free of charge on Friday and Saturday with a paid adult.
6. What makes your event a better choice for a sports fan compared to other sports? When compared to other sports, a NASCAR race is truly an extravaganza – an event that can span more than a week for the most passionate of fans. The culture and enthusiasm for the sport makes NASCAR more appealing, fun and captivating to many casual fans and the action – high speed on the high banks and a penchant for photo finishes – makes NASCAR racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway unlike any other sport.
7. Why should a race fan pick your facility over any other track? Fans should choose a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway because Atlanta often provides the best, fastest racing our sport has to offer on what is many drivers’ most-popular track. With drivers barreling three, four and occasionally five wide down Atlanta’s frontstretch approaching 200 mph, Atlanta Motor Speedway often features the best of NASCAR’s best drivers.
8. Where can fans find up to date race weekend schedules and special deals for your race(s)? Fans can find information on Atlanta Motor Speedway at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or they call the Ticket Office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX or (770) 946-4211. In addition, fans can follow Atlanta Motor Speedway on Facebook or Twitter (AMSUpdates). Information provided by Matthew Simmons, Marketing & Promotion Coordinator of Atlanta Motor Speedway.
